Flameless candle internal light shield

Abstract

According to embodiments of the present invention, a flameless candle is claimed, depicted, and described. The candle has a hollow interior region, an inner surface having an radius, and an outer surface having an outer radius. The candle also has a riser located within the hollow interior region. A lamp (e.g., LED) is also located in the interior region and above the riser. A light shield is located within the hollow interior region. The light shield is below the lamp and has an outer bound with a radius. The light shield also has a sloped portion. The light shield may have a reflector. The radius of the outer bound of the light shield is less than the radius of the inner surface of the candle shell. The sloped portion of the light shield slopes downwardly towards the outer bound.

1 . A flameless candle comprising:
 a candle shell including a hollow interior region, an inner surface having a radius, and an outer surface having a radius;   a lamp located within the hollow interior region; and   a light shield located within the hollow interior region and located below the lamp, wherein the light shield includes an outer bound having a radius less than the radius of the inner surface of the candle shell thereby creating an air gap extending horizontally between the outer bound of the light shield and the inner surface of the candle shell;   wherein:
 the candle shell comprises an outer surface with an upper region at a height above the light shield and a lower region at a height below the light shield; 
 the lamp and the light shield are configured to shape an illumination pattern on the outer surface of the candle shell by undiffused light from the lamp passing through the air gap; and 
 the illumination pattern comprises a tapered band having decreasing illumination intensity from a bottom area of the upper region through a top area of the lower region of the outer surface of the candle shell. 
   
     
     
         2 . The flameless candle of  claim 1 , wherein the lamp generates a flickering light. 
     
     
         3 . The flameless candle of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the candle shell comprises an outer surface with an upper region at a height above the light shield and a lower region at a height below the light shield;   the lamp and the light shield are configured to shape an illumination pattern on the outer surface of the candle shell; and   the illumination pattern comprises a tapered band having decreasing illumination intensity from the bottom area of the upper region through the top area of the lower region of an external surface of the candle shell.   
     
     
         4 . The flameless candle of  claim 1 , further comprising a base portion including an electronics portion configured to provide current to the lamp through a plurality of conductors. 
     
     
         5 . The flameless candle of  claim 4 , wherein the electronics portion is further configured to cause the lamp to generate a flickering light. 
     
     
         6 . The flameless candle of  claim 1 , further comprising a simulated wick located above the lamp. 
     
     
         7 . The flameless candle of  claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the light shield includes a reflective material. 
     
     
         8 . The flameless candle of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the candle shell includes a well. 
     
     
         9 . The flameless candle of  claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of light shield slopes downwardly. 
     
     
         10 . The flameless candle of  claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the light shield slopes upwardly. 
     
     
         11 . The flameless candle of  claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the light shield is horizontal. 
     
     
         12 . A flameless candle comprising:
 a candle shell including a hollow interior region, an inner surface having a radius, and an outer surface having a radius;   a lamp located within the hollow interior region; and   a light shield located within the hollow interior region and located below the lamp, wherein the light shield includes:
 an outer bound having a radius less than the radius of the inner surface of the candle shell thereby creating an air gap extending horizontally between the outer bound of the light shield and the inner surface of the candle shell, and 
 a sloped portion including a slope; 
   wherein:
 the sloped portion of the light shield slopes downwardly towards the outer bound; 
 the candle shell comprises an outer surface with an upper region at a height above the light shield and a lower region at a height below the light shield; 
 the lamp and the light shield are configured to shape an illumination pattern on the outer surface of the candle shell by light from the lamp passing through the air gap; and 
 the illumination pattern comprises a tapered band having decreasing illumination intensity from a bottom area of the upper region through a top area of the lower region of the outer surface of the candle shell. 
   
     
     
         13 . The flameless candle of  claim 12 , wherein the lamp generates a flickering light. 
     
     
         14 . The flameless candle of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the candle shell comprises an outer surface with an upper region at a height above the light shield and a lower region at a height below the light shield;   the lamp and and the light shield are configured to shape an illumination pattern on the outer surface of the candle shell; and   the illumination pattern comprises a tapered band having decreasing illumination intensity from the bottom area of the upper region through the top area of the lower region of an external surface of the candle shell.   
     
     
         15 . The flameless candle of  claim 12 , further comprising a base portion including an electronics portion configured to provide current to the lamp through a plurality of conductors. 
     
     
         16 . The flameless candle of  claim 15 , wherein the electronics portion is further configured to cause the lamp to generate a flickering light. 
     
     
         17 . The flameless candle of  claim 12 , further comprising a simulated wick located above the lamp. 
     
     
         18 . The flameless candle of  claim 12 , wherein an upper surface of the light shield includes a reflective material. 
     
     
         19 . The flameless candle of  claim 12 , wherein a top surface of the candle shell includes a well. 
     
     
         20 . The flameless candle of  claim 12 , wherein the sloped portion of the light shield slopes downwardly. 
     
     
         21 . The flameless candle of  claim 12 , wherein the sloped portion of the light shield slopes upwardly. 
     
     
         22 . The flameless candle of  claim 12 , further comprising a light diffusing member around the lamp, wherein the light diffusing member is configured to diffuse light emitted from the lamp.